Friday

What started as just a small collection of sculptures has, over the
centuries, turned into a complex of the world's most magnificent museums
featuring one of the finest collections of art on the planet.

History of the Museums

Vatican Museums

Ceiling painting, Vatican Museums

Ceiling detail, Vatican Museums

Gallery of Maps, Vatican Museums

Gallery of Maps

Perugia, Gallery of Maps, Vatican Museums

The Vatican Museums were founded under the patronage of two
eighteenth-century popes - Clement XIV (1769-1774) and Pius VI
(1775-1799) - who were among the first to open collections of art to the
general public for viewing, therefore promoting culture among the
masses. Appropriately, the first building in the museum complex, the
Pio-Clementine Museum, was named after these two pontiffs.

As the decades passed, more popes added to the already impressive
collection of diverse artworks owned and displayed by the Vatican.
Today, there are thirteen museums in about fourteen Vatican palaces that
are included on tours of the Vatican Museum complex. The building
complex is worth a visit in itself as all rooms and hallways are
lavishly decorated with marble and frescoes.

The Museums

Former entrance of the Vatican Museums

Statues on top of the former entrance, Vatican Museums

The many museums that make up the Vatican complex
are quite diverse. Nonetheless, each is interesting to explore and which
you enjoy most will largely depend on your artistic preferences.

Cortile della Pigna (Pinecone courtyard)

Pine cone (ancient fountain), Cortile della Pigna

Laocoön

Statue of Goddess Cybele, goddess of fertility, Vatican Museums

Antinous as Dionysus-Osiris, Vatican Museums

Meeting of Leo the Great and Attila, Vatican Museums

The Gregorian Egyptian Museum was founded in 1839 by Pope Gregory XVI,
who had a keen interest in Egypt. Featuring nine rooms, objects d'art in
this museum range from stelae and hieroglyphics from around 2500 AD to
Roman replicas of Egyptian statues from the second century AD. Not to
miss here is the collection of mummies from around 1000 BC that were
found at the Necropolis of Deir el-Bahri in Thebes.

La Pudicizia, Vatican Museums

Mummy in the Vatican Museums

Colossus of the Nile, Vatican Museums

The Gregorian Etruscan Museum was founded by the same Pope. Here you'll
find utensils from the pre-Roman era such as a collection of terra-cotta
vases. The highlight of the collection is a series of objects found in a
necropolis, among them a throne and a carriage.

The Vatican Pinacoteca, one of the newer museums - opened in 1932 - is,
technically, a picture gallery. Paintings range in age from the twelfth
to nineteenth centuries and include entire rooms devoted to the works of
such greats as Raphael and Caravaggio. There's also a unique display of
religious icons from the fifteenth to the nineteenth century.

Founded by Pius XI in 1926, the Ethnological Missionary Museum features
objects of a religious nature from four geographical areas - Asia,
Oceania, Africa, and America. About 80,000 pieces make up the total
collection for this particular museum.

The largest collections of the Vatican Museum are those with ancient
Roman and Greek art. Some of the most famous objects of art can be found
in the Pio-Clementine Museum such as the famous Laocoön statue, the
Apoxyomenos and the Apollo del Belvedere. Another interesting museum
with Roman art is the Museo Gregoriano Profano, where you'll find a
number of Roman replicas of original Greek statues.

Red porphry bowl from Nero's Domus Aurea

Other museums include the Collection of Modern Religious Art, founded by
Pope Paul VI in 1973 and featuring 55 rooms; the Pio Christian Museum
(with the Christian and Hebrew Lapidary); Tapestries; Ceramics;
Miniature Mosaics; Museo Sacro; Gregorian Profane Museum; and the
Vatican Historical Museum, which provides a fascinating look at the long
and sometimes turbulent history of the Vatican.

Sistine Chapel and Stanze of Raphael

Ceiling Fresco, Sistine Chapel, Vatican Museums

The Last Judgment by Michelangelo, Sistine Chapel

Sistine Chapel

Fresco in Stanze di Raffaello (Raphael's Room)

One of the highlights of the Vatican Museums is the famous Sistine Chapel,
where visitors can enjoy not only Michelangelo's magnificent ceiling
but also a host of other wonderful works of art, including the The Last
Judgment on the altar wall, from the same artist. (Bring binoculars for a
better view.)

The ceiling painting, which depicts scenes from the Old Testament, is
one of the world's most famous works of art and attracts up to twenty
thousand people every day.

In addition, the four rooms known as the Stanze of Raphael, once the
residence of Pope Julius II, feature the works of Raphael and his
assistants. The most famous fresco in these rooms is the "School of
Athens", a masterwork of perspective painting.

Staircase

Vatican Staircase

Before exiting the museum you have the chance to admire one of the
world's most famous staircases. Designed in 1932 by Giuseppe Momo, the
staircase consists of a double helix, one leading up and one leading
down. The beautiful bronze staircase is decorated with papal coats of
arms.

Visiting the Vatican Museums

Once you've purchased your tickets for admission to
the Vatican Museums, you can choose to follow one of four color-coded
itineraries that range from 1.5 hours to more than 5 hours. All
itineraries end in the Sistine Chapel. Even with a five-hour tour, it's
impossible to see everything there is to admire, but you'll get a good
overview and hit the most well-known highlights of these magnificent
museums.

Monday

When the Olymiapark was planned
for the XXth Olympic Games in 1972, the designers had
the long-term needs in mind. In contrary to many olympic
sites in other cities around the world, the different
centers built for the olympics are still used and the
Olympiapark has become one of Munich's major tourist attractions.

Olympic Park

The site contains an ice rink, an indoor
pool, a residential district and student residences and of course the Olympic Stadium,
which was the home of the main local soccer team, FC
Bayern München until they moved to the futuristic Allianz arena
in 2006. The Olympic stadium can seat 80,000

Olympic Stadium

people
and the Olympic hall 14,000.
The adventurous can take part in a roof-climb, which consists of a tour on top of the roof covering the Olympic Stadium.

The Olympic site was built by Günther Behmisch, Frei
Otto & Partners and became world-known mainly because
of the futuristic tent-like roof construction. It covers
the Olympic stadium, Olympiahall and the swimming pool.
The roof covering the main stadium consists of a PVC-coated
polyester fabric.

Olympiaturm

History

The 3 sq km (1 sq mi) large olympic park has now blended in with
the city and is easily reachable via the U-bahn (underground).
Situated close to the city center, it was built on a
terrain used by the Bayern army until 1925 when it became
part of the Munich airport. After the second world war
in 1945, the rubble cleared from the city was moved
here, forming the basis of the hilly landscape of the
Olympiapark.

Olympiaturm

For a good overview of the Olympic site,
you can either walk to the top of the 60 meters (197ft) high
hill in the Olympiapark, the Olympiaberg or you can
go take the elevator to the 189 and 192 meter-high platforms
on the Olympiaturm,
a 290-meter (951ft) high television tower. If you find it too
windy on the platform, you can also have a view on the
city of Munich from the revolving restaurant
in the tower.

Friday

The world's smallest country, Vatican City occupies 0.44 sq km (about .2
square miles) and is completely encircled by the city of Rome. Vatican
City serves as the spiritual center for millions of practicing Roman
Catholics worldwide.

But Vatican City is also a tourist magnet thanks to the presence of some
of Rome's most popular attractions, including the St. Peter's Basilica
and the Vatican Museums, home to the Sistine Chapel.

Usually referred to as a City State and often called "The Holy See",
Vatican City is home to about 800 residents. None of them are permanent.
The population of this tiny area, which surrounds St. Peter's Basilica, is made up of priests, nuns, guards, high-ranking dignitaries and, of course, the pope, and is constantly changing.

History of Vatican City

Vatican City wasn't always this small. In the mid-19th century, the
Papal States covered approximately 44,000 square km (17,000 sq mi).
However, during the next decade and the struggle for Italian
unification, the majority of these states officially became a part of
the country of Italy.

The pope's power was abolished and the papal territory was confined to
the Vatican. In 1929, the Treaty of Lateran gave The Holy See autonomy,
officially establishing this tiny area that attracts millions of
visitors each year. The city state is protected by its own military, the
strangely-clad Swiss Guards.

St. Peter's Square

St. Peter's Square

Guests enter Vatican City through expansive St. Peter's Square.
The square was
laid out by Bernini during the pontificates of Alexander VII and of
Clement IX (1657-1667). Visitors to this magnificent square (which is
actually an ellipse) are surrounded by two huge colonnades, with 284
Doric columns arranged in 4 rows, atop which stand 140 statues of
saints.

In the center of the square, you'll find a 25.31-meter-tall (83 ft)
Egyptian obelisk, brought to Rome by Caligula in 38 AD from Heliopolis,
located on the Nile Delta. Fountains are situated on either side of the
obelisk. The one sitting on the right was placed in this location by
Bernini and was made by Carlo Maderno. The other was created by Carlo
Fontana.

Thousands of guests gather in the square to hear blessings from the pope
or to participate in masses, especially on religious holidays such as
Christmas and Easter.

St. Peter's Basilica

St. Peter's Basilica

St. Peter's Basilica,
the crowning glory of Vatican City, is the most important church in the
world. The cornerstone of this church was laid more than 500 years ago,
in 1506. The magnificent altars and monuments inside the church are too
numerous to mention, but even those who aren't art aficionados will be
wowed by what they'll find inside this amazing basilica, including more
works by the renowned sculptor/architect Gian Lorenzo Bernini and also
Michelangelo's Pietà.

The enormous dome of St. Peter's is accessed from an elevator to the
roof. Once you've reached the top of the elevator, 323 additional steps
take you to the best view of Rome from anywhere in the city.

Swiss Guard

The Swiss Guards

Near the entrance of the basilica
you will probably encounter some of the famous Swiss Guards. Since 1506
when pope Julius II invited Helvetian soldiers to join the small
Vatican army, they have been the guards of the Vatican and the pope in
particular. All entrants to the army must be Swiss, Catholic and they
must take the oath of loyalty to the pope. This oath is taken May 26th,
to commemorate the sacking of Rome on the same day in 1527 when Swiss
guards protected pope Clement VII during his escape to Castel Sant'Angelo. Of the 189 guards, only 42 survived.

Vatican Museums

Pinecone courtyard

Governorate Palace

Vatican City is also home to the expansive Vatican Museums,
which boasts one of the most impressive art collections in the world.
Some of the most famous works of art on display here include the wall
and ceiling paintings of the Sistine Chapel,
the Stanze of Raphael, the Lacoön statue and the Apollo del Belvedere. A
tour of the museums is a must for any visitor to Rome.

Finding Your Way Around

Vatican City is an amazing place, so you'll want to be sure you don't
miss a thing. The Vatican has its own tourist office on the left side of
the piazza which is a good place to begin your visit. Here you can book
tours of Vatican City's gardens and purchase maps and other guide books
for self-guided tours of the square, basilica, and museums.

By the way, rumor has it that the Vatican's postal system is better than
that of the city of Rome, so be sure to mail your postcards there!

Thursday

The Avenue des Champs-Elysées is probably the most famous avenue in the world. This impressive street stretches from the Place the la Concorde to the Place Charles de Gaulle, the site of the Arc de Triomphe.

Orientation

Champs-Elysées seen from the Arc de Triomphe

Jardins des Champs-Elysées

The Champs-Elysées is almost two kilometers long
and seventy meters wide. At its western end the street is bordered by
cinemas, theaters, cafés and luxury shops. On the opposite end, near the
Place de la Concorde,
the street is bordered by the Jardins des Champs-Elysées, beautifully
arranged gardens with fountains and some grand buildings including the Grand and Petit Palais
at the southern side and the Elysée at its northern side. The latter
has been the residence of the French Presidents since 1873.

Celebrations

The Champs-Elysées is used for all the major
celebrations. This is where Parisians celebrate New Year's Eve and where
the military parades are held on the 14th of July. Historic national
events, like the Liberation at the end of the second World War or the
victory in the World Cup football were also celebrated on this wide
avenue.

Seventeenth century - The Elysian Fields

Champs-Elysées

In the sixteenth century this area was nothing but
fields outside the center of Paris. In 1616 Marie de Medicis decided to
create a long tree-lined path going east from the Tuileries. The route was redesigned in 1667 by renowned landscape designer André Le Nôtre as an extension of the Jardins des Tuileries.
The promenade, now called 'Grande Allée du Roule' or 'Grand-Cours' had
become a fashionable place but was still isolated from the city with few
buildings surrounding the area.

Twenty-seven years later the promenade was renamed to 'Champs-Elysées',
or Elysian Fields in English. The name was derived from Greek mythology
where 'Elusia' is a place where heroes come to relax.

Eighteenth & nineteenth centuries - Further Development

In 1724 the Champs-Elysées was extended all the way to the Chaillot hill (now known as l'Etoile, the site of the Arc de Triomphe). Its current form took shape in 1838 when French architect Ignaz Hittorf - who was redesigning the Place de la Concorde
- created the Jardins des Champs-Elysées. He also installed sidewalks,
gas lamps and fountains. The Champs-Elysées started to attract more and
more restaurants and hotels, especially after 1900 when the Paris metro
line nr 1 reached the Etoile station.

Current Design

The lastest redesign of the prestigious avenue was done in 1994 by
Bernard Huet. The side lanes were converted into pedestrian zones, an
underground parking lot was created and new trees were planted. Cars now
only occupy half the width of this grand avenue.

Tuesday

The Parthenon, an icon of Western civilization, is
one of the most famous buildings in the world. The temple was built in
the fifth century BC and overlooks the city of Athens from its majestic
position on top of the sacred Acropolis Hill.

Parthenon

Close-up view of the Parthenon

The Parthenon was built in honor of the goddess Athena Parthenos (virgin
Athena), patroness of the city of Athens. Initially the temple was
known as the Great Temple (Megas Naos), but later became known by the
name of Parthenon.

History

The current Parthenon was not the first temple built here during the
Antiquity. There are traces of two earlier - and slightly smaller -
temples, the first in stone, and the second in marble.

Parthenon at night

Detail of the Parthenon

Shortly after the Persians destroyed all the buildings on the Acropolis in 480 BC, Pericles commissioned the construction of a new
large temple and assigned architect and sculptor Pheidias the
supervision of the project. The design of the Parthenon is attributed to
Kallikrates and Iktinos. Construction started in 447 BC and the temple
was completed just nine years later. Pheidias continued to work on the
magnificent sculptures that decorated the temple until 432 BC.

After the Antiquity the Parthenon was converted into a church and during
the Ottoman occupation of Athens it was used as an arsenal. It became a
ruin only in 1687 when the Venetians, who besieged the Ottomans,
bombarded the Acropolis from the Philopappos Hill.

Detail of the inner frieze

The ammunition that was stored in the Parthenon exploded, destroying the roof, the interior and fourteen columns.

The Temple

The Parthenon was built as a peripteros - a temple surrounded by columns
- in the Doric order. The temple measures 30.86 by 69.51 meters
(approx. 101 x 228 ft) and contained two cellae (inner chambers). The
east cella housed the Athena Parthenos, a large statue of the goddess
Athena. The west cella was exclusively used by priests and contained the
treasury of the Delian League (an alliance of Greek city-states).

The Parthenon was decorated with numerous sculptures and reliefs. There
were some fifty sculptures on the pediments alone; most of the surviving
sculptures are on display at the British Museum in London, while some are at the nearby Acropolis Museum.
There were two friezes: the inner frieze at the cellae and the outer
frieze, which consisted of triglyphs (vertical stripes) and metopes
(rectangular tablets) with relief sculptures. The inner frieze was
designed by Pheidias and depicted the Panathenaea, the festival held in
honor of Athena. Many of the metopes and parts of the inner frieze can
be seen in the British Museum as well.

SE Corner

To achieve visual perfection, the creators of the Parthenon used optical
refinements to seemingly defy the laws of perspective. The columns are
slightly slanted inwards and have a curved shape. This results in making
the horizontal and vertical lines of the building look perfectly
straight to the naked eye.

Most people think that ancient temples always had natural, plain marble
colors. But the buildings and statues in the Antiquity were often very
colorful. The Parthenon was no exception: sculptures on the friezes and
pediment as well as the roof were brightly painted in blue, red and gold
colors.

Statue of Athena Parthenos

A neoclassical statue of Athena stands in front of the Austrian Parliament Building in Vienna.

The main purpose of the temple was to house the close to twelve meters
tall statue of Athena Parthenos, created by Pheidias. The statue was
chryselephantine - made of gold and ivory - and built around a wooden
frame. And like all other Parthenon sculptures, the statue was painted
in bright colors, mainly blue and red.Athena was depicted standing as a helmeted martial goddess. Her left
hand rested on a shield and in her right hand she held a statue of a
winged Nike. Unfortunately the original statue is lost but a modern
full-scale replica of the Athena Parthenos (and the Parthenon) can be
seen in Nashville, TN, in the United States.